The Regulations of the Organic Law of the PGR (Reglamento de la ley orgánica de la PGR) published in the PGR Internet Website state in article 38, Seventh Chapter ("Capítulo Séptimo: De las Direcciones Generales"), that the Dirección General de Administración de Bienes Asegurados is the branch of the PGR in charge of confiscated money or goods (bienes) (20 May 1998). The article also mentions that the General Director of this branch forms part of the Consejo Técnico para la Supervisión y Control de la Administración de los Bienes Asegurados (Technical Council for the Supervision and Control of the Management of Confiscated Goods). Article 40 of the same chapter mentions that the Dirección General de Supervisión y Control of the PGR supervises and assists in the disposal or control of confiscated goods. Article 46 of the Regulations' Eighth Chapter ("Capítulo Octavo: De los Órganos Desconcentrados") indicates that each state branch (Delegación) of the PGR is headed by a Delegado who has, among his or her responsibilities, the "coordination and supervision of activities related to the provisional control, preservation and confiscation of confiscated goods" (coordinar y supervisar las actividades relativas al aseguramiento, preservación y control provisional de los bienes asegurados).

A representative at the Communications Directorate (Dirección de Comunicación Social) of the Attorney General's Office (Procurador General de la República, PGR) stated during a 28 June 1999 telephone interview that the law governing the activities of the PGR was modified in March 1999, placing the responsibility for confiscated money and goods on another agency; therefore, control of money or goods confiscated in relation to a crime is no longer a responsibility of the PGR.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below a list of additional sources consulted in researching this information request.

Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), Dirección de Comunicación Social, Mexico City. 28 June 1999. Telephone interview with Press Officer.

_____. 20 May 1998. "Reglamento de la ley orgánica de la PGR."[Internet] http://www.pgr.gob.mx/frames/framea.htm [Accessed 12 April 1999]

La Jornada [Mexico City]. Internet search engines. 1995-1999.

Latin American Newsletters: Mexico & NAFTA Report [London]. 1996-1999.

Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1996-1999.

News from Human Rights Watch/Americas [New York]. 1995-1999.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Refworld, Global NewsBank, WNC, Internet.
Note: This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre are not listed.